Automobile-signal.



A. vv. GARITY.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL. APPLscATm- MED Fm. 2g. 191.6.`

A. W. GARITY.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL. APPLICATION {ILED FEB. 29,1936.

amnmd July 3, NVZ,

2 sHEETs-sHET 2.

ALFRED W. GIBTY, OF PITTSFELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

' AUTGMOBILE-SIGNAL;

neaaoaa.

lTo all whom may'conce'mu tomobile-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved signal which is intended to be used in connection with an automobile to' indicate the direction in which the machine is going to turn and the principal object of the invention is to Y provide an improved type ot illuminated box and to also provide improved means for mounting the same and improved means for lighting the electric bulbs when the'signal is turned to the desired position.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the Vsignal or indicator proper as to yieldably hold the saine in a set position and to return the yindicator to the normal position after being moved to indicate the direction in which the machine is about to turn..

Another object 'of the invention is to pro vide improved contacts so that when thein-` dicator is turned to an adjusted position.

the bulbs will be illuminated.

' Another object of the invention is to prolvide improved operating means for turning the indicator, the operating means being yieldabl `held in the normal .position and returnedyto the normal position after being moved to an adjusted position..

Another object` of the invention is to so l construct this operating means as to permit of its being connected lwith the steering post of the automobile where it .will convenient to reach.

r'his invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, whereinz Figure 1 is a view showing an automo' bile in side elevation and provided with the improved indicating. means,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of .the signals,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showingthe contact means for the bulbs in section,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the indicator which is shown mounted inthe housing in Fig. 2, the contact means which also pivot pin for the indicator be-A SSTVGS SiS 3J ing removed,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten Jury a, reir.

Application filed February 29, 1916. -v Serial No. 81,229.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5*-5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2

Fig. V7 is an enlarged sectional View of one of the insulating plugs used in connection With this invention,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in elevation of one of the contact pins used in connection with this invention, v

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of one of the insulator blocks used in` connection with this invention and shown in Fig. 6.

Thev signals which are designated in generalby the numerals 15 and 16 in Fig. 1 may be placed in any convenient position upon the body portion of the automobile,

. steering post 21 close to the steering wheel 22 andit will thus be seen that when the 'driver of the car is about to turna corner he can very readily reach the handle 23 of the actuating mechanism to turn the same. 'From an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be readily seen that this mechanism is so constructed vthat it may be readily connected with any car now in use and that therefore no special construction of body portion is vnecessary in order to .permit the device to `be used.

The signals 15 endl@ are constructed' i l valike and therefore a detail description of one .will sudice :tor both. The housing indicated in general by the numeral 2d is ing from the end wall or head .26 so that .the housing may be' connected with the mud guard or other part of the automobile. This housing will therefore serve to. throw the light 4in the desired direction and thus perlinit a person to easily see the light shown but 'having two of its walls indicated by the 4open at one side as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and is provided with base flanges 25 extendlllli .so with threaded openings 51 throng 52 entendi .These contact" Q 4pinsare Aprovided With enlarged heads 53 numerals 28 and 9 formed of glass and `having Left an RightA 'painted upon them as shown in Fig. 4.- The heads 30 Which are perforated as shown at .31 are 5provided with anges 32 and 33 Winch engage the glasses 28 and 29 and hold theglasses in engagement with' the heads to formthe Walls of the body portion. Spring catches or clips' 34 are carried by the iianges I32 and engage vthe edge of Glass 28 so that when the indicator is turne to exhibit the glass 28 there Will be no danger of this glass 'sli lping out of place.

n order to rotatably. mountthe indicater thereghas been provided stems 35 and Ithe openings'31 in the heads and are provided Withcollars 37 which are secured to the inner faces.'` of the heads 30 by means of rivets or other Spring 39 is wound upon' the 36 Which 'extend through screwed into the socket formed in the inner endof the pivot pin 36 and therefore when y,

the indicator is turned to the proper position the bulb Will be illuminated. The nipple 45 Which foi-ins part ofstem 36 isl separated from the block 40 by means ofthe padding v40 46 as shown." This d duced end 47 of the pin 35 are' rotatably y mounted in the openings 48 ofthe heads 26," the reduced ends of the pins 35 and 36 being.

rovided so that the indicator cannot havev nipple and the re- 45 ongitudinal movement in the housing.

lFromy an inspection of Figs. 2 and 6 1t will be seen that thehead 26 through which Y .the end of p'n 36 passes carries an lnsulat- 1 rovided ing :block 49 having bearingsvO which the contact 'pins so that they may be connected with the Wire i I 54 leading from the battery 55. The second l"' vvire 56 of the battery is connected'with the contact point'57 which en ages the bulbs as shown in Fig. 3 and .there 'ore- When the arm' v y 58 is in engagement "withone of the .pins v52 a circuit will be completed through the llamp to illuminate the same.

"circumstances spring 39 will hold the indicator in a position to prevent' engagement of This line 59 hasfits end cators'will be simultaneouslymoved to'-a of thev car can s'eethe signa ,When the driver is goingto turn tothe lett the handle 23 will be moved thus drawing to prevent the glass. Wallis fromV y showing through the open side ofthe housl ing.l The pin movin them to the position shownin Fig. 4.v The. p ate carrying the livord housing to be caable of turning movement,

y saidhousing and spacedl l A apart therein, 'a'lamp carried by the indica-v tor, 'a contactmounted in 4conjunction with l. 'the indicator and.connectedrvv iththe lam'p,-'y

l tionedmeans tobringthendicator to pref.

-Under normal- "'F-bman inspection of Fig. 1 will be seen y'.

that the wires 54 and 56 leading 'from the battery or other source of power p55 lare;

passed through the conduits 17 and ,18 which r :f'

also serve as a conduit for y'the line V59.'.7'0-"l portion'with the" lug 60 formed upon pivot pi1i`36iand there-y fore when the line is dravifn" the two indil position 'to indicate that the 'pin 'is to turn 75 to the ri ht or to the left. Inorder yto draw theine ytherel is ,provided'a draW in line61 .Whichlpasses through the con-- duit 19 and is conne'c ed with 'the actuating .4

mechanism. Y .y f' A A When in use v this Asignal 'is mounted .as A shown in'Fig. 'lfso' thatra erson Ain front 15 and a pery the signal'l.` S5

son behind the :carcan see line 59'to rotate' the two indicators 2.7v tothe' osition to shovvl the plate cari-ying the Word" Left. At the 'same time the contactfarm '.90 Y

d "I thei 58 'Will engage oneof the contactpoints 52 and the lamp. willbe illuminate y.

driver is to-turn to the right hevvill move i i the handle stillfarther thus giving the'in-"-k dicators' a greater amount of rotationand t p Right will then appear and the contact arm Willengage the second Contact point 52 thus illuminati,

ingthe lamp. 'After the turn has been madeL the handle will be released--and-'spring's 'A68' and 39 will return the handle andthe tvo indicatorsto the -normalgpositiomin which" position the lamp will not'be illuminated-f thereby preventing waste of current. What is claimed is: ,lv 1.' A direction indicator 'comprising housing, -1 an"indicator -mounted Within th contacts" carried means arranged-'in conjunction AWith'said 11iv same in -a relation that thefcontact thereof occupiesa Aneutral position vvith'frespect to '1 vthe contact v carried p by the housing, i and- A.means by which the "indicator is'manually movable against thetens'ion of said last mendetermined jsettings land to also move the 'contact of 'the' indicator finto engagement with the contacts of the housing. v 'l 2. A direction.. indicatorincluding'a sig-1 n al having a housing, indicating means' po-, 1- sitioned Within sald housing and'includine' a'body portion With transparent Walls, pivot contact arm 58 with either of the contact l pins 52 and therefore the lamp will not be.,y i e5 continually burning thus using up current.`

pinsextending from'said body portion and rotatably mounted in openingsformed';in

llee4 Iing, a contact carried by one of the pivot pins, a bulb carried by saidlast mentloned pin and engaged with the contact thereof, an electric circuit including Wires connected with said contacts, means -for yieldably holding said indicating means in a neutral position where the contact of the pin thereof is spaced from the contact of the housing, and

I means for rotating said indicator to move the same to an the contact of with the contact adjusted lposition and bring the same into engagement of said housing.

3. A direction indicator mechanism ncluding a signal having a housing. open at one side, an indicator positioned in said d housing and comprising a body portion,

pivot pins for said body portion rotatably carried by said housing, one .of said pivot pins having a socket formed in itsinner end portion, an insulator block positioned in said lpin, a Contact extending -from said socket through saidv pin, acontact pin carried by said block, a contact arm extending a sprlng Wound upon the other of said pivot pins and having one end portion connected with the pin andthe other end portion with said housing, said spring serving to yieldably hold said indicator in a neutral posltion, and means for rotating said indicator in said housing. v

'4. A direction indicator mechanism including an indicator having pivot pins .carried at the -ends thereof, means by which said indicator is mounted through the 'medium of said pivot turning movement, a contact carried by said indicator, a contact mounted at a fixed point, an electric bulb carried by said indicator connected with the contact thereof, an eleotric circuit having Wires yconnecting said contacts, means for yieldably holding said indicator in a neutral contact thereof is spaced 'from the fixed contact, and means for moving sa'id indicator to an adjusted position against the action of said last mentioned means and to Abring the contacts 'into engagement.

5. A direction indicator mechanism including a signal having a housing open at one-side, an indicator positioned in said housing and comprising a body portion,`

pivot pins for said body portion rotatably pins to be capable of position in which the carried by said housing, one of said pivot pins having a socket formed in its inner end portion, an insulator block positioned, in said pin, a contact extending from said socket throu h said pin, a contact pin carried by said lock, a Contact arm extending from said last mentioned pin, and means for rotating said indicator in said housing to bring the contact to a position to be energized.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALFRED W. GARITY.

` Witnesses:

JOSEPH F. GARITY, l HENRY G. Los 

